Garment take-up device



Jan. 12., 1943. vvv,c. MASON l f 308536.

GARMENT TAK-UP DEVICE Filed July 26, 1941 2 g. gz

/Nx/EN TOP l/\/////'0/77l C. Maso/1 Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENT TAKE-'UP DEVICE William C. Mason, Slingerlands, N. Y. Application July Z6, 1941, Serial No. 404,124

Claims. (C1. 24-87) My invention particularly relates to a device which is of a resilient character and which, when extended and fastened to spaced zones of a garment and thereafter released, functions to draw the spaced Zones of the garment toward each other. l

It is a first object of my invention to provide a garment take-up device which may be quickly applied to a garment and which may be inexpensively manufactured and is `of cheap but durable construction.

More particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide a device of the foregoing charac- .ter comprising a strip of moldable, flexible and resilient material having molded therein and adjacent both ends thereof a plurality of transversely spaced prongs, the free ends of said prongs extending lengthwise of said strip and being directed toward each other. By providing a plurality of prongs at each end of the strip, any strain applied to the material, in the zone wherein the take-up is fastened thereto, is distributed crosswise of the strip and, furthermore, since the strip is of flexible, resilient material, it can be flexed if necessary so that all of the prongs may be embedded in the material to which the device is applied.

, Another object of my invention resides in the provision of a take-up device of the above character which is provided with indicating means extending therealong and between the prongs at its opposite ends for indicating lines of cut along which the strip may be slitted or cut in order to decrease its resistance to stretching.

`Still other objects of my invention reside in which- Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a preferred form of take-up device; Y

Fig. 2 is a side elevation View of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 .is a bottom plan View of the device ofV Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an .enlarged sectional View of the device .takeninabout the planeA-ll of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 isfan venlarged fragmentary sectional view of one end of the molded strip of my takeup device illustrating a preferred construction;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 5 but showing the recessed portion, of the strip adjacent the free ends of the prongs, depressed substantially ush with the strip surface;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of4 a modied molded strip of my invention;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, bottom plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing a still further modication; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, bottom plan view of the structure of Fig. 10.

It will be understood that my device is particularly adapted for application to the waist band of trousers or a skirt, preferably on the inside thereof, whereby to provide a closer and somewhat resilient t. It may also be used, for example, as a fastener for overcoat collars and the like to hold them closely about the wearers neck, and as trouser guards for cyclists and in many other capacities.

In its preferred form, the device of my invention is of a molded construction, comprising a molded strip l of flexible and resilient material, such, for example, as rubber, which has molded therein a plurality of transversely spaced prongs 2. The strip, when formed of rubber, may be approximately 1/3" thick between the ends on which the prongs are molded to provide adequate extensibility and tension for all ordinary purposes, and the strip may be 1" wide by 3%. in length. The prongs lie adjacent opposite ends of the strip and are directed inwardly toward each other and extend generally lengthwise of the strip. The strip may be provided with ears 3 at each end thereof, as shown, to facilitate gripping the strip when inserting the prongs in a garment.

In order that the prongs may be securely an- Ychored in the molded strip, I preferably form the prongs in pairs, each pair being formed from a single wire-like element bent and shaped to provide the prongs at each end thereof. Furthermore, I prefer to use two of such elements at each end of the strip in order to provide a comparatively wide zone in which the strip is fastened to the material or garment. In this way, when all of the prongs are inserted in a garment and a pull is exerted thereon by the strip, the tendency to produce wrinkles or gathers in the garment is substantially eliminated.

These pronged elements are generally U- shaped, the two legs thereof, intermediate the prong ends and the connecting portion, being bent as indicated at 4 and again at 5, each substantially at right angles to provide reversely bent legs. The portions 6 of the legs between the bends l and 5 are in part embedded in the strip and the portions 'l of the legs and connecting portion 8 therebetween are wholly embedded in the strip, the portions 'I and the prong ends extending generally in the same direction whereby when the strip exerts a pull on the prongs there is no tendency for the prongs and strip end so to turn that the prongs will pull out bf the material of a garment. In other words, by arranging and molding the prongs in the strip as above described, the prongs will always be maintained substantially parallel to the strip and will not move relative thereto when 'the strip exerts a pull thereon.

It will be observed that since the prongs are molded in the strip and since the strip is ilexible, it may be transversely ilexed in the zones of the prongs so that all of the prongs may be inserted in the material of a garment even though the material is uneven or curved in a direction crossvvise of the device. Furthermore, by molding the prongs in the strip as described, no metal is present on the side of the strip opposite to that on which the prongs are disposed. Therefore, when the device is attached, for example, to the inside of the waist band of trousers or the like, the material 'of the strip lies adjacent the body and there will be no metal exposed to perspiration, which will 'corrode or otherwise be affected thereby.

In order that the strip I may be adjusted to provide the desired extensibility and to exert a desired 'degree of tension, I provide the strip with generally arcuate lines or preferably scores indicated at 9. These scores are, in the embodiment illustrated, symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the strip. Therefore, if it is desired slightly to decrease the strips resistance t'o stretching, the strip may be cut along the score lines Sa adjacent both side edges of the strip to remove theedge portions of the strip between these s'core lines and the sides. VSince -substantially equal amounts of material are removed from both side edges and along (symmetrical lines, the strip will remain balanced, that is, it will offer 'substantially like resistance to stretching on both sides of the longtudinal axis thereof. If a Afurther decrease in the resistance offered bythe strip to stretching is desired, the strip may be cut along the score lines 9b on each side thereof, or, if a still further decrease 4therein is desired, it may be out along the lines Sc.

In Figs. 5, 6 and '7, I have illustrated a modification wherein the strip and prongs are so relatively arranged that the prongs will not slip 'from the material of a garment when the tension on vthe strip is relieved, for example, when the garment is removed from the body. In Ythis embodiment, the elements forming the prongs are so arranged that the prongs are 'directed inwardly to a small extent toward the strip and lie at a comparatively small angle to the lstrip surface. The portions I of the elements, furthermore, preferably converge toward the cross piece 8 and extend upwardly through the body of the strip from the bend to the "cross piece 8, the portion '8 lying closely adjacent the upper surface of the strip. The "strip is formed with a recess I0 adjacent the free ends'of the -prongs 'prongs are inserted relative thereto.

and also with a ridge I I overlying the cross pieces 8 of the prong elements. Preferably, separate ridges are formed over each cross piece 8 and separate recesses for each pair of prongs and this construction is carried out at both ends of the strip.

Normally, the prongs occupy the relative relation to the strip shown in Fig. 5, closely to grip the fabric or material of a garment between the prongs and the body of the strip whereby to prevent the prongs from slipping out of the fabric. However, when the ridges are depressed as shown in Fig. 7, the prong ends are moved away from the strip surface to enable them to4 be freely inserted in the garment.

In Fig-s. -8, 9, 10 and 11, I have shown further embodiments of my invention wherein provision is made to prevent inadvertent slipping of the prongs from a garment or fabric when the tension thereon is relieved. y

`In Figs. 8 `and 9, the strip is provided with a ridge I2 extending transversely "of the 'strip and adjacent the free ends of the prongs but preferably vslightly spaced therefrom longitdinally of vthe strip. As illustrated, the ridge 'or lip I2 preferably extends at an acute angle to' ward theprong ends. Since the ridge I2 inay be molded in forming the device of rubber or similar material an'd will, therefore, be flexible and compressible, it serves normally to resist slipping of the garment in which 'the adjacent However, the ridge I2 will not prevent vthe prongs from being forcibly withdrawn from the garment.

`In the embodiment sho'wn in Figs. 10 and #11, the strip I is provided with a projection I3 yiisposed between the prongs 4and the end of 'the strip. This 'projection may be VAfor-'ined from a wire-like element which vis embedded or molded in the strip and the vpointed end thereof may be blunt rather than sharp. 'Ihe projetion I3 extends outwardly from 'the body and away from the prongs slightly toward the -s/tri'p'end Aso that when the device is applied to 'a garment it engages the garment tending to prevent any inadvertent slipping of the prongs out of the garment. However, when the end of the strip is viiexed 'outwardly from the Ymaterialof lthefgarinent 'sufficiently to remove the projection I3 therefrom, the vprongs may be readily removed. It

is "only necessary to provide one projection "I-'3 at each end "of the strip. n

In the embodiment shown 'in Figs. 8 and y9, a ridge I2, of course, is l1` reierably provided 'adjacent the prongs at both endsof'the strip.

Inaddition te the features of a molded takeup device of me haracter herein described which are apparent 'from the zforegoing description, it is to bel observed 'that vit `lis verydurable and sanitary. Furthermore, due to the construction shown, there is 'notendencyof the prongs to pivqt outjof the material in which they are inserted` under the force 'exerted by the st'rip "I and thereforeteaihg of the :gai''IvIeht will not Vresult.

Moreoven the provision of Jindicating"lne'a11"s"'o'r linesas described along which the strip may be cut to reduce the tension exerted thereby 'when stretched to a predeterminedextent enables the device to be adjusted while 'preserving its balanced pull, that is, its arrangement topr'ovid'e 'a pull of substantially the same magnitdeand in the same direction on both sides of :tlrelongitudinai axis -of the strip. g obviously, if thesmpwere cut only along'onesidele'dge er-toiuuequarpths or1en'gth's falongbth sidesfthe strip 'when' exerting a pull on the prongs would tend to pull to a greater extent on one side than on the other which would be objectionable.

While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the words which I have used are words of description rather than of limitation and that changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a strip of thin, flexible, resilient and extensible material having a plurality of transversely spacedprongs secured thereto and adjacent opposite ends thereof, said strip being resiliently extensible in a lengthwise direction and said prongs extending lengthwise of said strip and facing toward each other whereby said strip may be extended and attached by said prongs to spaced portions of a garment and may be transversely flexed in the zones of said prongs if necessary to lie flat against said garment with all of the prongs thereof embedded in the material of the garment, and said strip being provided with means disposed adjacent said prongs for substantially preventing a withdrawal of said prongs from the material in which they are inserted when only the tension on said strip is relieved.

2. A device of the character described comprising a molded strip of thin, flexible and resilient material having molded therein and ad jacent each end thereof a plurality of transversely spaced prongs, said prongs extending lengthwise of said strip and facing toward each other whereby said strip may be extended and attached by said prongs to spaced portions of a garment and may be transversely flexed in the zones of said prongs if necessary to lie at against said garment with all of the prongs thereof embedded in the material of the garment; said strip being recessed in the Zones thereof adjacent the free ends of said prongs; and the free ends of said prongs extending inwardly and at a relatively small angle to the strip surface and the embedded portions of said prongs in part overlying the recessed zones in said strip whereby a depres- 3. A device of the character described comprising a Vstrip of thin, flexible and resilient material having a plurality of transversely spaced prongs secured thereto and adjacent opposite ends thereof, said prongs extending lengthwise of said strip and facing toward each other whereby said strip may be extended and attached by said prongs to spaced portions of a garment and may be transversely exed in the Zones of said prongs if necessary to lie flat against said garment with all of the prongs thereof embedded in the material of the garment, and said strip being provided with a ridge adjacent the free ends of said prongs for resisting an inadvertent withdrawal of said prongs.

4. A device of the character described comprising a strip of thin, flexible and resilient material having a plurality of transversely spaced prongs secured thereto and adjacent opposite ends thereof, said prongs extending lengthwise of said strip and facing toward each other whereby said strip may be extended and attached by said prongs to spaced portions of a garment and may be transversely flexed in the zones of said prongs if necessary to lie flat against said garment with all of the prongs thereof embedded in the material of the garment, and said strip being provided intermediate said prongs and the adjacent ends of said strip with a projection extending outwardly at an angle to said strip and toward the end of the strip.

5. A device of the character described comprising a strip of thin, flexible, resilient and extensible material having prongs secured thereto and disposed adjacent each end thereof, said strip being resiliently extensible in a lengthwise direction and said prongs extending lengthwise of said strip and facing toward each other whereby said strip may be extended and attached by said prongs to spaced portions of a garment, and means disposed adjacent and in front of said prongs for preventing a withdrawal of said prongs from the material in which they are inserted when the tension on said strip is relieved.

WILLIAM C. MASON. 

